Overview
Telford Transport Solutions Limited is a warehousing and transportation business based in Telford, which had traded for 17 years from three leased sites.
Over a number of months the company built up HMRC arrears of around £1.2 million, and when a Time to Pay arrangement was rejected, the debt continued to grow. HMRC served a winding up petition on 30 September 2026, which put the company at immediate risk of enforcement.
David Kemp and Richard Hunt of Exigen Group were appointed Joint Administrators on 2 October 2026, and the business and assets were sold the same day, saving the business, all three trading sites and 64 jobs.
The Background
Telford Transport Solutions was founded in 2009 and over 17 years grew into one of the leading West Midlands’ transport, warehousing and fulfilment providers. The company offered local, national and international transport, alongside warehousing, third party logistics and e-commerce fulfilment, running from three leased trading premises in Telford and employing 69 people.
The business used an invoice finance facility with Grenke Factoring to support its cashflow, with a debtor ledger of around £390,000.
The Challenges
HMRC arrears accrued over a number of months, and while a Time to Pay arrangement was considered, it was ultimately rejected. Without an agreement in place the arrears kept increasing, and the outstanding balance reached approximately £1.2 million, with total liabilities of around £1.8 million.
The serving of the winding up petition on 30 September 2026 meant the company had very little time left to act. The directors acknowledged that the company had become irrevocably insolvent, particularly in light of HMRC’s position, and supported the debenture holder’s decision to place the company into administration.
The Outcome of the Telford Transport Solutions Administration
Following an introduction from Grenke Factoring, who’re expected to be repaid in full, the directors engaged Exigen Group to explore a pre-pack sale of the business and assets.
The purchaser was the landlord of the company’s main trading premises, and the sale to unassociated business Lloyd Baker Leather Limited for £320,000 completed on 2 October 2026, only days after the petition was served. As a result:
- The business was sold as a going concern
- All three trading sites were retained
- 64 of the 69 employees transferred to the purchaser under TUPE
- The core management team remained in place
- Customers continued to be served without interruption
As a transport business, the company needed an Operator Licence to run its vehicles, and because a licence can’t be transferred to a new owner, the purchaser applied for its own from the date it took over the business. While the temporary licence was being issued, it is understood that alternative arrangements were put into place to cover initial trading requirements.
David Kemp, Administrator at Exigen Group, said:
“The company had traded for 17 years, but this case shows how important it is for directors to take early action when financial difficulties arise. Once the threat of a winding up petition becomes imminent, the options available to a company become much more limited.“In this case, early initial planning enabled a rescue strategy despite the winding up petition, and a pre-pack sale could be completed. The business is still trading, all three sites have been retained and 64 jobs have transferred to the new owner. If the directors had waited only a few more weeks, the options would have been even more limited.
“That’s why we always say take advice early, because there are far more options while there’s still time to work with, especially when licences or other accreditations are involved.”